Pneumatic pump



Jan. 25, 1927.

l 4.1. LATTA PNEUMATIG PUMP Filed Feb. 24, 1926 Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN L. LATTA, OF HICKORY, NGRTH CAROLINA.

PNEUMATIC PUMP.

Application filed February This invention relates to pneumatic pumps such as .are used in rural districts for delivering fresh water from a well direct to a faucet without the intervention of any storage tank.

Specifically, the present invention is an improvement upon or further development of the construction shown in my prior Patent No. 1,502,258, granted July 22, 1924.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide an improved water inlet valve, an improved air admission valve and associated parts, and an improved construction of exhaust valve operating motor.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional. view through my improved pump complete, parts being shown in elevation and parts being `)roken away;

Figure 2 is a transverse section throughthe pump substantially on the line 2 2 of Figure 1; y

Figure 3 is a longitudinal central .section on an enlarged scale of my improved exhaust valve operating motor piston;

Figure 4 is a vertical central section on an enlarged scale through my improved water inlet valve; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation ou an enlarged scale showing my improved air admission valve.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my improved pump.l as in my prior patent, comprises a vcrticallvarranged cylinder 1 closed at its upper end by a head 2 and at its lower end hv a head 5%. AllVliile in my prior patent the water inlet valve was carried by this lower head, it will be observed thaty in the present construction the lower head 3 is solid or imperforate.

The upper head 2 is similar in construction to that of my prior patent and comprises lower and upper .sections 4 and 5 having registering ports or passages therein and joined by means of a suitable packing 6. It will be understood that the cylinder body and heads are held together by means of suitable rods or stay bolts (not shown).

Set into the top of the upper section 5 of the head 2 are an air supply pipe 7 and 'water delivery pipe 8 and an air exhaust pipe 9. Also opening out through the top of the upper saai/h isa water inlet part er pas- 24, 1926. Serial N0. 96,369.

sage 10, having its upper end covered by a wire screen 11 or the likeand registering with a similar passage 12 formed in the lower section 4 of the head. Communicating with the pipe 8 `are registering passages 13 and 14, in which passages at their junction point is arranged a check valve 15. Communicating with the pipe 7 are registering passages 16 and17, and with the pipe 9 are passages 18 and 19, all as clearly shown in Figure 1.

Depending downwardly into the cylinder from the head 2 and communicating with the passage 12 therein is a pipe 20 which extends nearly to the bottom of the cylinder. To the lower end of this pipe is secured an inlet valve designated in its entirety by the numeral 21 and best shown in Figure 4. This valve comprises a block or cap which is screwed on to the end of the pipe, and a valve seat in the nature of an annular grid structure 22, flat on its lower surface. Against this flat grid is adapted to seat a disk-like valve member 23 which is preferably formed of soft rubber or the like and which is so constructed as to be buoyant when' immersed in water. The valve member 23 is confined below its valve seat by means of a cage comprising a plate 24 supported by posts 25. From the above described. construction it will Vbe apparent that water entering the pipe from above can flow freely through the grid 22 into the cylinder, but that when the valve member 23 has engaged, the grid return iiow of water is prevented.

'Depending from the head 2 and communieating with the passage 13 therein is a water discharge pipe 26. This also extends nearly to the bottom of the cylinder but preferably terminatesslightly above the lower end of pipe 20'. The bottom of this pipe 26 is entirely free and open,

Also depending from the head 2 and communicating with the passage 1G therein is an air supply pipe 27. This entends down almost as far as the pipe 26 and carries at its lower end an admission valve, the details of which are best shown in Figure 5. This device comprises a cap 28 which is screwed on to the end of pipe 27 and is provided with a central port 29 communicating with such pipe. Adapted to cooperate with the port 29 is r valve member having a conical head 30 and a shank 31, such shank being loosely held and suspense by a bleek sa inversa at 3ft te the cap 28. The extent to which the valve member projects above the block 32 is determined by an adjust-ing screw 33 against which the lower end of the shank 31 rests. lt will be understood that this shank has a certain amount of play in the socket in.

which it is held. so that, when the block 32 is swung upon its pivot 34, the valve head 30 ma.Y suitably adjust itself to the edge of the port 29 and thus tightly close the same.

Secured to the block 32 and extending out therefrom beyond the pivot 34 is an arm or lever This is so proportioned and positioned as to be engaged by a button 3G se cured to the lower end of vertical push rod 37. This push rod is mounted inside of a pipe 3S, the lower end of which is offset as indicated at 3S, an opening,l in the under side of this pipe being,` provided through which the rod 3'? extends, such opening eing closed by the button 3,6 when the parts are in the position shown in Figure l. The rod 37 is relatively light and is capable of sliding` vertically "ithin lhe pipe 38. The block 32 is so proportioned and pivotcd that it acts as a counterweig'ht yto sustain and balance the weight of the arm 235 and push rod 37 so that, regardless of existing pressures, the parts will remain in the position shown in Figure l.

The pipe 38 is secured at its upper end to the lower end 39 of a water box or float chamber 40, preferably cylindrical and attached at its upper end to the section l of the cylinder head. The box or tube 4 1-0 forms a continuation of a cylindrical bore 4l formed in section l of the head.

Vilithin the chamber formed by the here Lll and tube 1-0 is housed a float 42. This is preferably in the nature. of a cylindrical billet having a wooden corercovered with soft rubber or the like. The upper end of this billet when in its elevated position, as shown in lligure l, is adapted to engage and cover a port forming the mouth of a passage 44. This passage communicates at its other end with the space above a perforated plate l5 forming; theupper end or head of a cylinder 46 constituting part of the exhaust valve operating motor. rlhis cylinder fils within a similarly shaped bore or cavity in the section et of the head Q. i

In the lower end of this bore or cavity is fitted a member 47 which forms the head of the exhaust valve operatingz,Y motor and w iich has a hollow extension 49 which projects downwardly into the pump cylinder and constitutes a seat for the exhaust valve, rThe port 18 in the cylinder head communicates with the cylinder of the exhaust valve operating motor below the piston thereof, and a port 4S forujied in the member 417 establishes communication between the passage 18 and the interior of the pump cylinder when the exhaust valve is away from its seat.

This exhaust valve, as .in my prior patent. in'eferably consists of a buoyant ball 50, and is confined by means of a tubular caire l surrounding the valve seat 49 and provided with air holes 52 spaced above the bottom of the cage such a distance as to prev-ent the flow of air from lifting the ball toward its seat.

Fitted to reciprocate within the cylinder ll-G is a piston comprising a cup leather 523 supported on a plate 55 and clamped thereto by means ot a bolt 54 which engages the upper end of a hollowpiston rod 57. A port 5G extends through the bolt 5l and eslablishes communication between the span-e above the piston and the interior ot' the hollow piston rod 5'?. Comniunication is fur'- ther established from the interior of this hollow piston rod to the interior of the main pump cylinder, when the exhaust unseated by means of a port 5S o peuiuuv through the side of the piston rod 5T.

llflounted to slide freely within the hollow piston rod 5?' is a plunger 6() pressed downwardly by a spring 59 and secured to a. shank 61 whichl extends down beyond the end of the piston rod 57 and preferably carries at its end a knob or button (32. lt will be clear from the above description that when ll e plunger 60 is moved upwardly into the bor-e of the hollow piston rod 57, it seri/'es to obstructl and close the port 58, thus con stituting a valve. l

Having described in detail the structure of my `improved pump, its operation will be clear from the following. VThe pump is. of course, submerged in the water or other liun uid so that when there is no air pressa 1e inside of the cylinder, water will flowy ln' gravity through the passages l0 and l2 and pipe into the cylinder, passing freely through the check valve 2l at the bottom of the pipe 20. Such flow will continue until the cylinder is practically full. lil'eanwhih` the flow of compressed air from the pi pe 7 into the cylinder is prevented by reason of the fact that the floating billet 42 rests upon the knob 37"' on the upper end of the push rod 37 and its weight is suliicicut lo hohl lhe block in its elevated position with the valve member covering` the port 539 and thus shutting oil the air supply, l'llhen the water level reaches the top of the cylinder it fills the float chamber and causes the hill/l 42 to float up olf of the push rod 8T and up against the port 43 as shown inv ll`ig'iue l4 The water has also carried the floating; ball up into engagement with the seat 4f), thus closing' the .exhaust port, as shown in the drawing'.

As c=oon as the push rod 37 is relieved of the weight of the billet 1l-2, the air pressure in the pipe 27 forces the valve 30 away from the port Q9, thus admitting,l compressed air into the cylinder. This air thereupon valve is if Ell lllf

llO

Ell

rushes in, passing up through the water in the form of extremely line bubbles which results in a thorough aeration of the water. The air pressure accumulating inthe upper' end of the cylinder then serves to force the water up through the discharge pipe 25, past he checlcvalve 'l5 and out through the dclivery pipe 8.

As die air continues to enter the cylinder the water is continuously expelled, the level gradually falling until it reaches the lower end of pipe 38 (which is slightly above the lower end of pipe lt may be noted at this point that on account of the button 3G closing the opening in the pipe 3S through which the rod 3'? passes, the water seal on such pipe is not broken until the water level clears the lower end thereof. Then this occurs the water immediately is discharged from the pipe 38 and water box 40, thus permitting the billet l2 to fall. This falling movement of the billet simultaneously performs two functions. lt results in push- .ingl the rod 37 downwardly thus bringing the valve into engagement with the port 2S) and sliutting oft the air supply, and at the same time it serves to open the port 3, thus admitting pressure fluid into the space above the piston 53. rlhis piston therefore immediately moves downwardly against the tension of spring G3 and brings the knob G2 into engagement with the ball or exhaust valve 50.., lvleanwhile pressure fluid has begun to escapo through the port 58, but as soon as the button-Qn' shoe G2 engages the ball 50 the punger GO is forced up into .the piston rod 57, thus covering the port 58 and preventing further escape of fluid therethrough. The continued downward movement of the piston 5Fl results in forcing` the plunger (l0 still further up into the piston rod, thus com-- pre-sing the spring 59 until its tension is sutlicicnt to dislodge the ball from its seat. Then this occurs the ball will. be thuinped or thrown violently downward as the spring 59 expands, thus quickly profecting it out of the path of the air which rushes up through the exhaust ports 52. lt will, o l' cours be understood that. this ein haust air passes up through the hollow memv her 49 and thence through the ports i8 and passages 1B and 19, sufficient; clearance being provided between the piston rod 57 and the surrounding parts to permit the free escape of the air. The plunger 60 and associated parts, it will be seen, serve the double function of acting as a valve to close the port 58 and at the saine time serving to project the exhaust valve out of the path of the escaping air. The purpose of the port 5S and passage 56 is to permit the escape of any water which may be trapped above the piston 53. As soon as the exhaust valve 50 leaves its seat, the pressure in the entire pump is relieved and the spring 63 returns the piston 53 to its normal position, as shown in Figure l.

1. In a pneumatic pump, the combination with a vertical cylinder having motive fluid i admission and exhaust valves, of a head at the upper end thereof, said head having both liquid inlet and outlet passages formed therein, and a pair of pipes carried by said head and extending downwardly into said cylinder to a point near the bottom thereof, said pipes communicating with said inlet and outlet passages, respectively, and a constantlj,T submerged check valve controlling the inlet passage pipe. p

2. In a pneumatic pump, the combination with a vertical cylinder having motive fluid admission and exhaust valves, of a head at the upper end thereof, said head having both liquid inlet and outlet passages formed therein, and a pair of pipes carried by said head and extending downwardly into said cylinder to a point near the bottom thereof, said pipes communicating with said inlet and outlet passages, respectively, and a check valve controlling the flow of liquid through each pipe.

3. ln a pneumatic pump, the combination with a vertical cylinder having motive fluid admission and exhaust valves andaliquid discharge port, of a liquid inlet pipe eX- tending downwardly into the cylinder to a point below the low water level therein, and a check valve carried by said pipe at the lower end thereof.

4. A pneumatic pump comprising a vertical cylinder having liquid inlet and discharge passages, and a motive linid exhaust valve, of a niotive fluid admission Avalve located near the bottom of the cylinder, and a float permanently located near the top of the cylinder for controlling said valve.

A 1pneuniatic pump comprising a vortical cylinder having liquid inlet and discharge passages, and a motive fluid e:f-;hau. st valve, of a. motive `fluid admission valve lo cal ed near the bottoni of the cylinder, a float chamber at tho top of the cylinder. a free Heating billet. in said chamber and means whereby said billet controls said motive fluid admission valve,

6. A pneumatic pump eomprisii'ig a ver tical cylinder having liquid inlet and disi charge passages, and a motive fluid exhaust valve, of a motive fluid admission valve located near the bottom of the cylinder, :i float chamber at the top of the cylinder, a float in said chamber, means for maintaining said chamber full of liquid and the motive [luid admission valve open while liquid is being expelled from the cylinder, until the cylinder is nearly empty, and means whereby, upon the escape of the liquid in said chamber, said float operates to close said motive l fluid admission valve.

e rrr.

7. A pneumatic pump comprising;` a cylluder provided with liquid inlet and outlet passages and with air admission and exhaust valves, and exhaust valve operating motor, a float, and means whereby said float controls the supply ot pressure fluid to said motor and also by its Weight directly actuates the said air admission valve.

S. ln a pneuniatic pump, the combination with a vertical cylinder having` Water inlet and discharge passa s and an air exhaust valve, ot an air admission valve near the lower end ot the cylinder` a lever for moving' said valve a vertically extending push rod engaging` said lever, and a :tloat at the top et the cylinder arranged to engage the upper end ot said rod and operate said valve.

i). ln a pru-unnatic pump7 the combination with a vertical cylinder having 'water inlet and diri-teharge passages and au air exhaust valve. o'l an air admission port near the lower end ot' the cylinder, a valve tor closing' said port a, pivoted blochY carrying; said alve and provided with an extension, a push rod entjaging; said extension, and a iloat arranged to engage said push rod to operate the alve l0. a pneumatic pump, the combination with a vertical cylinder having` Water inlet and discharge passages and an air eze haust valve, of an air admission port near the lovver end of the cylinder, a valve for closing said port, a pivoted block carrying;` said valve and provided with an extension, a vertically disposed push rod supported at its lower end en said extension, and a float arranged to engage the upper end of said rod and operate said valve, said block being` so infoportioned and pivoted as to constitute a counter Weight to substantially balance the ueieht et said rod.

ll. In a pneumatic pump, air admission means comprising,` a vertically disposed pipe, a cap at the bottom of said pipe provided Wit-h a port, a block pivot-ed to the cap adjacent said port, a valve member loosely carried by said block and arranged to be brought into engagement with said port when said block is swung on its pivot, and float-controlled means for swinging said block on its pivot, to operate said valve.

l2. A pneumatic pump eouiprisinoa cylinder having` liquid inlet and outlet, and an air admission valve, a head closing the end otl the cylinder and havimgan air exhaust passage and a motor chamber, an exhaust valve at the .lower end of said chamber, an exhaust valve operating motor comprisingT a piston vertically reciprocable Within said chamber, means t'or admitting fluid pressure above said piston to aetuate the samev` the piston rod having a passage there7 through establishing communication between the space above said piston and the interior ot said pump, and a valve controllinp; said passage.

lil. A ilineumatic pump comprising a cylluder having' liquid inlet and outletj and an air :ulmission valve, a head closing the end oli the cylinder and having an air exhaust passage and a motor chamber, an exhaust valve at the lower end ot' said chamber, an exhaust valve operatinggr motor comprisiug a piston vertically reciprocable within said chamber, means for admitting,T fluid pressure above said piston to actua-te the same7 the piston rod having a passage therethrough establishing` communication between the space above said piston and the interior of said pump7 and a. spring-pressed plunger mounted within and projecting below the end of said piston rod, said plunger constituting a valve to control the said passage, the engagement of said plunger with the exhaust valve as the piston moves downwardly, serving` to shift the plunger to cause it to close said passage.

In testimony whereof l ailix' my signature.

JOHN L. LATTA. 

